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Kermes

1. (Science: zoology) The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect (coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the Mediterranean. They are round, about the size of a pea, contain colouring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine.

alternative forms: chermes.

2. (Science: botany) a small European evergreen oak (quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect (coccus ilicis) feeds. Kermes mineral.

(Science: medicine) a compound of the trioxide and trisulphide of antimony, used in medicine. This substance occurs in nature as the mineral kermesite.

Origin: ar. & Per. Girmiz. See Crimson, and cf. Alkermes.